Kelsey Quarberg

Recent Posts

Sports fans have been anxiously waiting and the time is almost here: March Madness. As you gear up for a series of exciting games and limitless chicken wings, there’s one preparation that any dedicated basketball fan takes very seriously: picking a winning bracket.

If you’re one of the thousands of Minnesota residents who is considering filing for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, follow these simple tips to help you get the most out of your Minnesota bankruptcy.

Has Mother Nature caught you off guard with unprecedented winter storms?

No matter how prepared you think you are for winter, chances are when an unexpected snowstorm hits, you find that there was something you forgot: extra batteries, driveway salt, or the ever-important loaf of bread and gallon of milk may make the difference between enjoying the winter wonderland outside or cursing the swirling white fury outside your window.

It’s that time of year when Santa is making his annual inventory of all the good and bad Minnesotans. But Santa isn’t alone: many Minnesota families are also taking a good hard look at their finances and wondering how much crunch they will feel once their credit card statements come in January. According to a recent report, the average American family spent almost $1,000 on just gifts during the 2016 holiday season and the projected expense of the 2017 season is expected to be even higher. For Minnesota families that are already struggling financially, the added cost of the holidays can turn a bad situation into a dire one.

The term “full-service” is all the rage in business marketing: whether a hair salon, caterer, car wash, or accountant, every business pushes to be a one-stop solution to meet their customer’s needs. But what exactly is a full-service Minnesota bankruptcy law firm?

Technically, all bankruptcy records are public through the federal court’s internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. In order to access bankruptcy records through PACER, one needs an account set up. Those in Minnetonka can create their own PACER accounts, but the average Minnetonka resident doesn’t know that. One typically is in some sort of legal field in order to know about PACER access. Further, those with PACER access would need to search your name in order to find your bankruptcy filing. The chances of one of your Minnetonka friends or relatives having a PACER account and actually searching your name is pretty low. Plus, anyone that tries to access documents through PACER must pay a fee per page that they try to access. This acts as a natural deterrent from people casually searching through PACER.

Technically, all bankruptcy records are public through the federal court’s internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. In order to access bankruptcy records through PACER, one needs an account set up. Those in Eden Prairie can create their own PACER accounts, but the average Eden Prairie resident doesn’t know that. One typically is in some sort of legal field in order to know about PACER access. Further, those with PACER access would need to search your name in order to find your bankruptcy filing. The chances of one of your Eden Prairie friends or relatives having a PACER account and actually searching your name is pretty low.

If you’re one of the thousands of Minnesota residents struggling with debt, chances are you might be faced with some form of aggressive collections actions from creditors in the near future. What many Minnesotans don’t realize, however, is that there is one way to stop foreclosure, repossession, and creditor harassment fast: by filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Minnesota.

Have you ever been tempted by “one size fits all” Minnesota bankruptcy services? Advertisements for law firms that claim to understand the complexity of your financial situation without ever meeting you or discussing your information? Law firms that tout their bankruptcy expertise, without ever having actually taken a Minnesota bankruptcy case at all, let alone one that is exactly like yours?

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is what we refer to as a “Government Sponsored Debt Repayment Plan.” Instead of using a debt consolidation company or tackling your overwhelming debt on your own, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a great option. The main difference between a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the Chapter 13 Plan. When you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you include a 3 to 5 year repayment plan. The repayment plan amount is based on your disposable income. Basically, you take your average income in a month and subtract your average living expenses. The amount left over is considered your “disposable income” which you can contribute to your Chapter 13 plan. Your Chapter 13 payments are then distributed to your creditors.

While most Minnesota residents are familiar with the concept of bankruptcy, the nuances between the different types can still be confusing. At Kain & Scott, we offer our Minnesota clients both Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. This article focuses on Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, which can eliminate all of your unsecured debt forever in 90-120 days from filing.

October is a time for scares: ghosts, goblins, and ghouls abound and frights are as common as falling leaves. One type of scare you don’t want in October is to come face-to-face with a low credit score. Unfortunately, for those who are considering filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Minnesota, a low credit score is a common problem and, once your score has fallen, it can be difficult to raise it again.

Chapter 7 bankruptcies are known as the “Liquidation” chapter of bankruptcies. That doesn’t mean the judge is going to pull up in front of your house with a moving truck, load up your stuff, and drive away. Instead, it means the court labels your property as either “exempt” or “non-exempt” based on either federal or state laws. Your non-exempt property can either be: 1) surrendered to your Chapter 7 trustee, 2) “purchased” from your bankruptcy estate, 3) or abandoned by the Chapter 7 trustee. Here, I will first discuss the differences between exempt and non-exempt property. Then, I will discuss the three non-exempt property options.